Leonid as g



(No Model.)

L L. G.. WOOLLBY.

GUT-OUT FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

No. 350.519.v Patented Oct. 12, 1886.

WI T .N ESSES.

'UNITED YSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONIDAS G. WOOLLEY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGN OR TO HENRY H. MCGAFFEY AND CHESTER BRADFORD, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

GUT-QUT FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

Y SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,519, dated October 12, 1886. Application filed November 16, 1885. Serial No. 182,906. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, LENIDAs G. WooLLEY, of the city of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Out-Outs for Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my said invention is to produce a cutout for electric lamps whereby,

A 1o when the lamp is broken, a short or cut-out circuit will be provided forthe electric current.

This object is accomplished by providing a pivoted bridge-piece capable of being operated by a spring afterA being started, and a shuntcircuit containing an electro-magnet of high resistance, the armature of which is connected to the pivot ofthe bridge-piece, whereby when, by the breaking of the lamp or lampcircuit, the current is forced through said shunt-cir- 2o cuit, said electro-magnet will be energized and the armature operated to start said bridgepiece, when its movement will be completed by thespring, and it thus brought into contact with the two rods or wires running to the lamp, bridging them, and forming the short or cut-out circuit. f

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which aremade a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar 3o parts, Figure l is a top or plan View of a lampsupport provided with my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same, the bridgepiece being shown in the position which it occupies when the lamp is cut out; Fig. 3, a horizong5 talv sectional View looking downwardly from the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a similar view with the armature in the position to which it is drawn by the electro-magnet when energized, and Fig. 5 a vertical sectional 4o view looking toward the rightfrom the dotted line 5 5 in Fig. 1.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the base; B B, the rods or wires running to the lamp; C, the helices of the electro-magnet; D, a frame work carrying said helices, their armature, aud the bridge-piece; and E, said bridge piece. The base A supports the rods BB, the frame-work D, and has usually binding-posts a a, to which the linewires are connected. The rods B and B are secured to this base, and the upper ends are secured to the points or wires connected with v the illuminating portion of the lamp. An incandescent lamp is shown; but my invention may, by suitable changes in constructiombe applied also to arc-lamps. Two helices, G,are shown, which are of high resistance and are set into a shunt-circuit. In the ordinary op` `eration of the lamp, while the current is flow`` ling through it, but little of the current passes` 6o through this shunt-circuit, and consequently` the helices exert but little power on the arma-x ture. When, however, the main or lamp cr-v cuit is broken,the current being forced through, the shunt circuit energizes said helices, and 65 they operate to draw their respective ends of, the armature toward themselves, thus (said armature being arranged at. somewhat of au' 'angle with the central. line passing through\ them) starting the bridge piece (which is 7o mounted on the same pivot or shaft therewith) and permitting the cut-out to be operated. The frame D serves as a base for the helices of the electro-magnet and as a support for the pivot-shaft on which the armature and bridge- 7 5 piece are mounted. kThe spring D', which is employed in the invention, may also be secured thereto.v ThebridgepieceEis provided with a pivotshaft, E', on which it and the armature Cof the electro-magnet are mounted. 8o Said pivot-shaft is located centrally between the two helices of the magnet, thus enabling each of said helices to exercise an equal power upon the corresponding end of the armature.

vThe point e of the bridge-piece is made .somewhat wedge-shaped, as shown most plainlyin Fig. 3, in order that it may Wedge in tightly between the rodsBand B and form aperl'ect electrical contact therewith. The shank of the bridge-piece extends out somewhat on the opposite sideof the pivot fromits head, as shown most plainly in Fig. 4, and to this extended portion is secured, by a pivot, e', a connecting rod or link, E2, which engages with and is operated by the spring D on the frame D.. The operation is as follows: When the lamp is to be used, the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. l, in which arrangement the bridgev piece occupies such a position that the force of the spring comes vupon its pivot-shaft, and is 10o not in position to be effective to throw said bridgepiecearound against the rods B and B',

The armature of the electro-magnet (which is mounted upon the same pivot-shaft with said bridge-piece) is arranged., as shown, at an angle with the cores of the helices, so that when said helices are energized they will pull said armature around a partial turn, (see Fig. 4,) sufficient to throw the bridge-piece into a position where the spring will act thereon. So long as the lamp is in working order, the cornparatively small portion ofthe current which passes through the shunt-circuit is not strong enough to effect this result; but should the lamp become broken or the connections there- `with destroyed the increased current passing th rough the shuntcircuit would cause the helices to pull upon and start the armature and parts connected therewith in motion,when, by the force of the spring D', the motion would be continued and the bridge-piece be driven between and into contact with the rodsBand B, thus forming a short path for the electrical current, (or cut out circnit,) as will bereadily understood. The electro magnet might, of course, be so arranged as to effect the result without the aid of the spring in connection therewith, and I do not desire to conne rnyself to the use of such spring, preferring to regard it as a Supplemental or re-enfdrcing device, which, while advantageous and valuable as adding to the certainty of the operation, might be dispensed with without avoiding my invention.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination7 with an electric lamp, of an electro-magnet set in a shunt-circuit con nected therewith, a pivotshaft bearing the armature of said electro-magnet and a bridgepiece, and a spring connected with said bridgepiece, said several parts being arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the rods or wires B B', helices C, frame D, carrying spring D, a pivot-shaft, E', mounted in bearings in said frame, carrying an armature and the bridge-piece,and a connecting-rod connecting said bridge-piece and said spring, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the main `circuit of an electric lamp, a shunt circuit, helices of high resistance in said shunt-circuit, a pivotshaft carrying the armature to said helices, and a bridge-piece, said armature being set in such relation to said helices that when said helices are energized by the current being forced through them they will operate through said armature to turn said pivot-shaft and said bridge-piece, and bridge the rods or wires of the main circuit, thus cutting out or short-circuiting the lamp, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 10th day of Novexnber,A. D. 1885.

LEON IDAS G. WOOLLEY. [n s] In presence of- E. W. BRADFORD, GHARLns L. Timmins. 

